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A recent court ruling involving the Medicare Secondary Payer statute is generating a flood of comments and opinions about the potential impact on the workers' comp system. While the decision may curtail Medicare's collection power a bit, it is too soon to start celebrating.

Many workers' comp stakeholders are breathing a sigh of relief at the failure of California voters to legalize marijuana. At the same time, they are pondering the next move in Washington state after the rejection of a significant initiative there and hoping that result doesn't discourage Ohioans who might be considering a similar move.

A U.S. lawmaker calls into question the validity of AMA permanent impairment guides. Experts defend the sixth edition, while others attack its serious flaw.

Get a group of workers' comp stakeholders together and the issue of opioids is likely to come up. And it's no wonder--with an opioid topping the list of the most expensive workers' comp pharmaceuticals, according to recent drug trend surveys.

If yours is like many companies these days, your revenue is down but your workers' comp expenses are not. In fact, those costs may even be higher than they were pre-recession. Spending a little money on the front end may be the best solution to falling profits.

Keeping remote workers safe on the job can be frustrating. They tend be more independent than in-house employees. Default safety training just doesn't work.

New technologies: Are they technology nirvana or newly identified ergonomics risk factors? We have entered the modern world of new communication devices, microtechnologies, and nanotechnologies.

A recap of the changes that the Republican victory on November 2 could spell for the workers' comp industry across several states, including Washington, California, Florida, New Jersey and Oklahoma.

U.S. businesses spend more than $10 billion annually in direct costs for influenza, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The agency is encouraging employers to take steps to stem the spread of the flu despite a new survey showing a majority of adults do not plan to get flu shots.

With medical costs outstripping indemnity payments in the workers' comp system, it is increasingly important to control the medical aspects of your business, including treatment and impairment ratings. But how? One way is by developing partnerships with physicians who provide high-value services.

The number one way to reduce your legal expenses is not to incur them in the first place. That blatantly obvious suggestion comes from someone who makes his living as an attorney.

If you're looking for a way to quickly close a claim for the right amount and don't mind spending extra time and effort, you might want to take a team approach. The "double play" strategic alliance brings together everyone involved in managing a claim to determine how best to resolve it.

Prescription drug abuse has become a leading concern. Some studies indicate it is more prevalent than illicit drug use. The issue is especially significant in the workers' comp system.

If you're looking to implement or tweak your return-to-work program, a California-based system may offer some valuable strategies. The head of the program says strong lines of communication, buy-in from supervisors and employees, and executive-level support are critical.

What do Bob Petrie, Mary Ann Stiles, Vinny Armentano and Dan Kugler all have in common?